Queensland mining fly-in, fly-out rules under review

THE fly-in, fly-out staffing of Queensland mines that helped develop the coal mining boom was no longer guaranteed, Premier Campbell Newman said.

In a visit to Mount Isa, Mr Newman said FIFO was appropriate in remote mines but may not be necessary in projects close to cities.

"This Government believes in regional cities and towns like Mount Isa and we want to see regional Queensland built up.

"We don't want everyone to live in southeast Queensland.

"So what we have to do is take it on a case-by-case basis. If there are new mines to be built in close proximity driving distance from Mount Isa, preferably we will see the families coming here and people relocating here."

RECOMMENDED COVERAGE

Mining town 'should have own currency'

Mining a feast for all to share

The Government has the ability to restrict FIFO through its conditions and approvals to mines. Central Queensland communities have voiced their concerns about the huge impact the rostering system has on small towns where infrastructure and services are limited.
Mr Newman also used his visit to back a second study into the northwest minerals province based around Mount Isa.

He said Queensland was missing out on jobs and investment by not developing the $10 billion worth of uranium resources.

While environmentalists maintain there is little economic benefit to uranium mining, Mr Newman found strong support from former Labor mines minister and current Mount Isa mayor Tony McGrady who said he had been fighting all his political life for the ban to be lifted.

"People haven't yet come to understand the benefits of the lifting of this ban on uranium because in the process they will be able to find other deposits of minerals which will give a second lease of life to this area," Mr McGrady said.


BY: JOHN MCCARTHY From: The Courier-Mail January 18, 2013 1:00AM
Source: The Courier-Mail